RFK Jr. wants to treat addiction by creating wellness farms. Does it work?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during his presidential campaign and as U.S. Health Secretary, promoted 'wellness farms' inspired by Italy's San Patrignano as a solution for addiction and youth mental health, including a controversial reference to 'reparenting' Black children. The model emphasizes abstinence, work, and community living but does not use evidence-based medication treatments for addiction. Critics in the medical and drug policy communities have raised concerns about its effectiveness and potential risks.
- ▪Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposed creating wellness farms in the U.S. modeled after San Patrignano, an Italian addiction recovery community.
- ▪During a Senate hearing, Kennedy faced criticism for suggesting Black children could be 'reparented' on these farms, a comment he said he did not recall making.
- ▪San Patrignano focuses on abstinence and labor but does not use medication-assisted treatments, which are considered medically essential for addiction recovery by many experts.
- ▪Kennedy has previously praised San Patrignano as a 'beautiful model' and compared a potential U.S. program to the Peace Corps.
- ▪The Department of Health and Human Services stated that Kennedy's use of 'reparenting' referred to a psychotherapeutic concept and was taken out of context.
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Healthcare RFK Jr. talked about 'reparenting' kids on wellness farms. We visit one that inspired him April 29, 20265:00 AM ET Brian Mann The vineyard at San Patrignano outside Coriano, Italy. The community is home to 850 people all working to recover from alcohol and drug addiction. Elisabetta Zavoli/Getty hide caption toggle caption Elisabetta Zavoli/Getty During a combative Senate hearing last week, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat from Maryland, leaned forward and asked U.S.
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